Children's and Young Adult's literature is a billion dollar industry and with the proliferation of self and indie and publishing, everyone has a shot at getting beyond the front door. Whether you have a work in progess or always wanted to try your hand, the Writing for Children and Young Adults Seminar can help you, the writer, get there.

In this one day seminar, students will learn the ABC's of writing for children as well as examine the elements of style in a YA novel. Together, we will look at the creative process and build toolboxes to aide in our progress as children and YA writers. Students will learn picture book basics and employ methods to format the text with images in mind. The course will also look at the middle grade novel and discover the delicate balance between humor and lessons that exist in some of the industry's most popular and awarded titles. Finally the students will examine the YA novel and learn how to tackle issues without alienating the intended audience.

During the seminar students will have the opportunity to share their work through a series of writing exercises as well as a mini-workshop of works in progress. Participation in the mini-workshop is optional although encouraged.

Elley Polonkey, seminar leader, is a Master of Fine Art candidate at Lesley University's Creative Writing Program. She has studied with such prolific writers as William Lychack, a 2012 National Endowment of the Arts Fellow, and Tony Abbott, the 2009 Edgar Award winner. Elley is currently Managing Editor of American Athenaeum Literary Journal. She has published academic articles for the Journal of Medical Informatics and her short non-fiction essays "CJ's Place" and "Five Spice" will appear in the forthcoming collection of essays published by Sword and Saga Press."Snow" a retelling of the fairytale Snow White, will appear in an anthology released next summer.

* Registration includes coffee and refreshments in the morning. Lunch is on your own.